Cayman Islands

Airports

3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Highways

160 km of main roads

Merchant marine

33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732 GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

Ports

George Town, Cayman Brac

Telecommunications

35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

Budget

revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Currency

Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $35.0 million

Electricity

74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 9,710 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed rate)

Exports

$1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.); commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods; partners--mostly US

External debt

$15 million (1986)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

GDP

$342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth rate 15% (1988)

Imports

$136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods; partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials, furniture making

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (1988)

Overview

The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Climate

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Coastline

160 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Comparative area

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Environment

within the Caribbean hurricane belt

Land boundaries

none

Land use

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Total area

260 km2; land area: 260 km2

Administrative divisions

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Capital

George Town

Communists

none

Constitution

1959, revised 1972

Diplomatic representation

as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--none

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

Flag

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987); Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly

Long-form name

none

Member of

CDB, IOC

National holiday

Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July 1991

Political parties and leaders

no formal political parties

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(15 total, 12 elected)

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate

13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate

5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic divisions

40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates of various ethnic groups

Infant mortality rate

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force

8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

Language

English

Life expectancy at birth

74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Literacy

98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Nationality

noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian

Net migration rate

33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor

Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

Population

27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

Religion

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (1991)